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Regional Sicily, elections close: the unsolved riddle of the candidacies

The Sicilian regional elections of November 5 are getting closer and the center-right and center-left have not yet found the right balance - On the right, the choice is between Armao and Musumeci - The alliance between Pd and Alfano is almost certain, but on the left, there is arguing about alliances. Micari probable candidate.

Regional Sicily, elections close: the unsolved riddle of the candidacies

The holidays are also coming to an end for politics: this can also be understood from the ongoing ferment. After the traditional August break, politics is once again regaining its rightful place, placing itself at the center of the national debate with proposals and controversies. However, the main theater seems to have officially moved 900 km, moving from Palazzo Chigi to Palazzo dei Normanni. Just over two months to go before the Sicilian regional elections of 5 November and no party wants to leave no stone unturned.

Never as in this 2017 has Palermo managed to win national interest. The stakes are high. There are many who think that the vote of the Trinacria is fundamental, even decisive for the national balance. Summarizing the current political sentiment in simple terms: whoever wins in Sicily could already have a foot inside Palazzo Chigi, the loser may never be able to see it again even with binoculars. A test bench, a test not to fail, a springboard that will project the parties and coalitions towards the policies of 2018.

Precisely for this reason nothing will be left to chance. For the centre-left and the centre-right, there is only one watchword: to find a candidate who is able to avert the victory of the Movimento 5 Stelle which, with the candidate for governor Giancarlo Cancelleri aim to hit the jackpot. The problem is that, as usual by now, finding an agreement between the various parties that make up the two fronts, engaged since time immemorial in an internal war, seems like a dream worthy of Thomas More's most idealistic utopia.

While the pentastellati have been continuing their electoral campaign for weeks, centre-right and centre-left continue to quarrel on the right name, on the most suitable profile, on the most fruitful alliance. On the one hand we try to understand who between Gaetano Armao and Nello Musumeci represents the most appropriate choice, on the other we try to find the square on the rector of the University of Palermo, Fabrizio Micari, supported by the PD and the mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando , but which in the event of an alliance between these and Alfano could be downloaded by the other parties of the coalition. 

Sicily elections: the choice of the centre-right

Wanting to summarize the situation of the center-right on the eve of the Sicilian regionals, at the moment two separate blocks coexist which, despite repeated attempts, fail to find the square. Silvio Berlusconi intends to focus on the professor of administrative law and former regional councilor of Sicily Gaetano Armao, father of the Siciliani Indignati movement. He would have confirmed it to Gianfranco Micciché during the summit held in Arcore three days ago, despite the fact that his name has aroused some discontent within Forza Italia.

The former president of the Province of Catania, In the Musumeci (Diventerà Bellissima) would instead be Giorgia Meloni's candidate. The final decision should arrive by the end of August but the aim of both factions seems to be unambiguous: to avoid the recurrence of splits such as those already seen for the municipal councils of Rome last year. The Knight has already promised it: in the event that the choice falls on a candidate he likes, he would even be willing to move to an apartment in Palermo for a month to campaign.

What is also to be understood is the position of Cesa's UDC which in Sicily can count on a considerable pool of votes.

Regional Sicily: the doubts of the center

But if the center-right is "crying", the center-left is not laughing. It seems to be established by now, even if not official, the agreement between the Democratic Party and Angelino Alfano, despite the fact that the Sicilian leaders of the Ap have repeatedly expressed their willingness to actively participate in the negotiation. In Trinacria, the party of the current foreign minister could guarantee 5-6% of the votes, significant percentages capable of even determining victory.

Under the agreement, the presidential candidate of Ars should be the rector of the University of Palermo, Fabrizio Micari. A name that Matteo Renzi likes, but also the mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando.

Another problem is represented by the "parties to the left of the PD: Article 1 - Mdp, the Italian Left and the Communist Refoundation are not willing to run alongside Alfano, definitely setting aside the hypothesis of replicating the so-called "Palermo model" that is so popular to Roman leaders. Without Alfano, however, they might be willing to converge on a civic candidate like Micari. In short, the problem is not the name, but the training. 

In the meantime, the centre-left will also have to deal with the current president of the Region, Crocetta Rosary, intending to apply again and try to double.

Other official candidates, in addition to Cancelleri for the M5S, include: Roberto La Rosa (free Sicilians list), Piera Maria Loiacono (Italian Liberal Party and ista Libertas), Franco Busalacchi (We Sicilians) and the former rector of the of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla.

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